COVID not driving buyers to cheaper models: Bajaj Auto

Bajaj Auto, one of India’s biggest motorcycle manufacturers, said it is yet to see any down-trading or change of behavior among motorcycle buyers in India due to the COVID pandemic, and that demand is already at 80-85% of normal levels. Speaking to investors and analysts after the company’s quarterly results last week, executive director Rakesh […]

No cash? Get a car on ‘subscription’ from Maruti Suzuki

Maruti Suzuki, the country’s largest carmaker, has started a car subscription service in India in association with ORIX, a Japan-based car rental service provider. Car subscriptions are like car leasing, but with more flexibility that comes at typically higher costs. Unlike car leasing, car subscriptions typically do not come with conditions such as travelling limits. […]

Maruti Suzuki announces ‘car cabin separator’ for COVID-19 times

Maruti Suzuki has come out with a range of health-related products and car accessories keeping in mind the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The most interesting of these is the ‘car cabin separator’, a PVC shield that can be kept behind the front seats to seal off the front and back sections of the car. “The car […]

COVID-19: Maruti Suzuki sees more inquiries for cheaper cars

With the Coronavirus lockdown putting people’s livelihoods in danger, India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki said initial trends indicated more customer inquiries smaller cars. The company’s showrooms had shut on March 23 and re-opened only earlier this month. “Initial inquiry trends that we have seen so far, since the showrooms have opened, suggest that trend,” said […]

Hero MotoCorp sells 10,000 two-wheelers post COVID lock-down

Hero MotoCorp said it has sold 10,000 motorcycles and two-wheelers since its dealerships and showrooms opened after a 41-day lockdown earlier this month. As of today, said the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, it has opened more than 1,500 outlets and service centers which account for around 30% of the company’s total retail […]

TVS Motor says readying to start ops post COVID shutdown

TVS Motor Co, one of India’s top three two-wheeler makers, said it is getting ready to restart manufacturing operations after registering zero sales for the month of April due to the pan-India Coronavirus lockdown. “TVS Motor Company is gearing up to restart operations as per state guidelines and is undertaking strong measures to safeguard the […]

END of LOCKDOWN? Volvo Eicher gets nod to restart production

VE Commercial Vehicles, a joint venture between Sweden’s Volvo Group and India’s Eicher Motors, said it has received permission from the government to restart manufacturing operations at its commercial vehicle manufacturing plant in Madhya Pradesh. Considering the wider lock-down in place, it said, it is not planning on any immediate ramp-up in manufacturing operations. “The […]

Japan-based Kubota takes strategic stake in Escorts

Escorts Ltd, one of India’s oldest motor and equipment makers, said Japan-based Kubota Corporation, one of the top tractor makers in the world, will take a 10% stake in the Indian company for Rs 1,042 cr. The partnership, which will go beyond equity participation, will “integrate and deepen their relationship towards achieving their mutual ambition […]

BHEL to supply electric buses for Gorakhpur airport

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, India’s largest electrical equipment maker, said it has won a contract to supply electric buses for the Gorakhpur airport. A new airport for the Uttar Pradesh city, spread over 300 acres, will be set up on the Gorakhpur-Varanasi highway. At present, there is a small airport at Gorakhpur which is serviced […]

Amara Raja reports ‘continued demand slowdown’

Amara Raja Batteries Ltd, India’s biggest manufacturer of lead acid batteries, reported a modest increase in revenue, and said it continued to face a demand slow down in its key markets of automobiles and telecom. “The automotive sector is facing challenges of demand uncertainty due to social, regulatory and technological changes,” said Vice Chairman and […]

Bajaj takes aim at Royal Enfield, Jawa with Triumph tie-up

Bajaj Auto has just announced its grand entry into the retro-motorcycle market with a new partnership with 118-year-old British brand Triumph. The two companies will jointly develop and market retro-look motorcycles in the Indian market at prices less than Rs 2 lakh — the bread and butter segment for Royal Enfield and Jawa. Until about […]

BS-VI Transition: Last-minute discounts on Royal Enfield bikes unlikely

Royal Enfield, the country’s biggest maker of premium motorcycles, is unlikely to offer last minute, stock-clearance discounts as part of the BS-VI transition, given that strong festival sales helped clear out much of its inventory. According to company officials, the festival sales this year have been so strong that they have effectively cleared out any […]